You have lots of choices when shopping for insurance coverage for your vehicle. You can get prices from an agent or get quotes online to compare insurance costs of car insurance companies. Shopping for car insurance from online rate quotes saves time, is easy to do and at the same time you can save money.

Comparing car insurance rates direct online is challenging if you are a beginner to online rate quotes. But don't be discouraged because it's actually quite easy. There are several ways to get quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The best method to find the cheapest consists of shopping online. It is quite easy and can be accomplished by getting a quick quote here.

What factors determine the rate you pay?

Car insurance premiums on a 2004 will vary greatly and are calculated by many factors. Taken into consideration are:

• High performance increases premiums
• Your accident history
• Whether you insure your home with the same company
• Pleasure use vs. commuting use
• Special coverage such as replacement cost
• Your occupation
• The amount of protection requested
• Whether you rent or own your home

An additional factor that will help determine is the year of the vehicle. Older cars and trucks have a reduced actual cash value than newer models so the cost to replace them may end up costing you less. But more recent vehicles may have safety features including a collision avoidance system, forward-collision avoidance, and active head restraints so those may help offset higher rates.

Liability insurance - This will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. Liability insurance covers things such as emergency aid, pain and suffering, and medical services. It is cheap coverage so you should buy as much as you can afford.

Collision coverage - Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company. Collision coverage for your 2004 can be pricey, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive protection - This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle's value it's not worth carrying full coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage - This provides protection when the "other guys" are uninsured or don't have enough coverage. Due to the fact that many drivers carry very low liability coverage limits, it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.

Medical expense coverage - Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for expenses such as doctor visits, EMT expenses, and X-ray expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible.